Introduction to Social Statistics

Why are some countries more likely than others to participate in environmental treaties? Why do some people feel animals have rights while others feel animals can be treated as objects? Why do some US states have high homicide rates while in others the occurrence of a homicide is very rare?With a relaxed and conversational writing style, ongoing examples and complete exercises, this book shows how quantitative methods can help us to understand social questions and contemporary issues. Its special features include:* Three strategies to help students master statistics: use of models throughout; repetition with variation to underpin pedagogy; and emphasis on the tools most commonly used in contemporary research* Accessible and consistent structure to guide students through the text, with ongoing examples running across chapters, showing how more than one statistical method can be used to approach a research question* For enhanced learning, includes a 'walk-through' of statistical concepts, applications, features, and advanced topics boxes, and a 'What Have We Learned' section at the end of each chapter* Supported by a website containing instructor materials including chapter-by-chapter PowerPoint slides, answers to exercises, and an instructor guideThis is a lively and very user-friendly book that makes students comfortable with what is usually considered a fearsome task: learning statistics.